December 2007

Right now it would be Tunica. Tunicia?

I leaped into some spring-ish sewing of…tunics, it turns out.

I used New Look pattern No. 6725. My idea was a tunic-like thing I could wear over pants-and-undershirt in the spring and fall, kind of a bridge between the seasons. I’m not quite sure how to feel about them now that they’re done.

Shorter, wider version (it’s going over pants, so all is well)

We headed up to hear the bells on Christmas Eve. We are not religious, but they welcomed us anyway. The music was amazing. First the bells, then an oboe. Beautiful.

We took a moonlit wander before bed. Mars was visible, as well as an almost-full moon. I’m sure any passers-by wondered what we were doing with binoculars…outside…in the dark…on Christmas Eve.

I can only hope that everyone had as lovely an evening.

1. Start with a good idea, like this one for fabric gift tags from the Purl Bee.

2. Gather some materials:

a) fabric (just one, or two if you want to use a different fabric for the back of the ornament), I also think that wool felt would be a smashing idea
b) twine, rick-rack, ribbon, buttons, beads, applique shapes, or whatever you like for decoration on the front of your ornament
c) twine, rick-rack, ribbon, or string for an ornament hanger
d) thread or embroidery floss for sewing the outside
e) filler (I used cloves, but any kind of good-smelling filler would do nicely)

3. Cut out your shapes. I did circles (I put a jar on the fabric, traced around it, and then used pinking shears to cut).
You’ll need a front and a back for each ornament (unless you’re being tricky and cutting on a fold…and then you’re on your own, but well done you).

4. Decorate the front of your ornament: Embroider shapes (mittens, holly, snowmen, etc.), attach buttons, sew down rick-rack and ribbon, applique, etc.

5. Attach your thread hanger to the wrong side (back) of your ornament front (either pin or baste stitch). I did have a bit of trouble with the twine slipping through the machine stitches. I made the stitch length smaller and went over the twine a few times. So far, so good, but just keep that in mind.

6. Leaving an open space (you’ll need this to put in your filler), pin the ornament back to the ornament front, with their wrong sides together.

Sew partially around the perimeter (again, leave yourself enough room to put in your filler). I used my machine to sew it, but a hand-sewn edge would be neat, too. Maybe a blanket stitch around the edge?

7. Put in your filler. I love the smell of cloves, and they work well because they are small. Lavender? Small potpourri?

8. Sew the opening shut (either on your machine, or by hand). If this is tricky using your machine, stop and scoot the filler to one side. You can re-adjust it later, and it will be easier to get your presser foot down.

(I had a walking foot on my machine from attaching a binding a few days ago, and I was too lazy to take it off. But there isn’t any special trick…I would have used my regular foot if that had been on the machine.)

9. Trim any loose threads or decoration, etc.

I finished a quilt top and I just can’t love it.

It is made of three different solid red fabrics (look closely, you’ll see them), muslin, and five prints (the central one, plus dots, stars, snowmen, and Christmas).

The dimensions are 58 inches by 86 inches, roughly. There is chalk along the bottom six squares (I was preparing to quilt it). The chalk will likely come off, but I can’t make any guarantees.

I will ship this quilt top anywhere in the world.

Send me an e-mail in the next week if you want it…and I’ll update this post if anyone takes it (TAKEN). If no one wants it, I’ll take it to a community service organization here (they finish quilts and distribute them). It’ll find a home somewhere. Not to worry!

Happy holidays.

Christmas text (on top)

dots (left side)

snowmen (right side)

stars (bottom)

(note chalk marks)

I think I’ve done all the decorating I’m going to do.

Special thanks to B for risking life and limb hanging the lights.

The paperwhites (narcissus) are blooming…and two of the Pottery Barn napkins have been made into pillows.

(Update: the video stalls out at 2 seconds…not to worry, it actually ends there)

1) I finished a new quilt and put it up yesterday (click on the photo to see it bigger).

I wanted it to look like a (big) antique label. I like the way it looks slightly like rick-rack. I really love rick-rack.

Also, I quilted it using a long-arm quilting machine (I rented time on the machine at this business, after I took a class). For my first attempt at long-arm quilting, I’m happy with the results.

2) B sent me this link about a clever way to make plush toys. Really amazing technology.

3) B is in *huge* trouble in this household for mentioning that he couldn’t get this song out of his head. Well, guess who can’t get it out of her head now? Oh yes. Big trouble.

Penguin stamp, cards, envelopes, and stickers are all from Paper Source. Labels are from the Martha Stewart collection at Michaels.

Me at seven months.

Fabric is Echino, I found mine at Superbuzzy.

1) These city-specific Moleskine journals. With maps! And a way to trace your route!

2) Toot & Puddle: Let It Snow. Excerpt: “He knew that the best present was usually something you made yourself, a one-of-a-kind thingamajig, not just a whatsit anyone could buy in a store.” I’m rather fond of thingamajigs.

3) Saturn Press (no Web site*). I wish you could download the weightiness of it, the crispness of the paper, etc. If you write to them, they will send you a museum-worthy catalog of their products (where I found the card above).

*Saturn Press
PO Box 368
Swan’s Island, ME 04685

4) This little Christmas story about a captain with troublesome fairies. Click here for a link to the album (the first link is a sample in mp3 format).

5) I found the book Simple Contemporary Quilts at the library. And it has projects by Talented Lady Hillary and by Talented Lady Amy.

6) The draft snakes have worked out well. B has nicknamed them “Charlie” and “Carl.” He has also made up potential books about them, such as “How Charlie The Too-Fat Draft Snake Saved Christmas.” As I write this, he is in the kitchen, making a hot cup of something. The sound of a spoon on a ceramic cup seems like music, today. Must be getting on to Christmas…wherein I find sentiment practically everywhere.